Zagreb, April 24 (FPB) - The first ever lung transplantation in Croatia and
this part of Europe has been carried out yesterday at the Jordanovac
hospital in Zagreb. A 64-year-old lung patient was fitted with a new set of
lungs; without the operation he was expected to live just another year. The
three-hour-long surgery was performed by a 10-doctor team with the
cooperation of doctors from other Zagreb clinics. There are some four
patients that are completely ready for surgery on the lung transplantation
waiting list and some 10 are being prepared for the procedure.
(a) Pre-operative X-ray of a female shows chronic lungdisease caused by broncho-pulmonary dysplasia.
(b) The right upper lobe of her mother's lung wastransplanted into the child's right chest.
(c) Transplantation from a living-related family member isbeneficial because it provides an immediate donor source and reduces thelikelihood of rejection.
The USC cardiopulmonary transplant team, headed by Vaughn A. Starnes, M.D., is composed of experts in their respective fields of cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, immunology, critical care medicine, cystic fibrosis, immunosuppression, and rehabilitation. Dr. Starnes is a world-recognized leader and innovator in heart, heart-lung, and lung transplantation, and cardiothoracic surgery. USC University Hospital recently received certification for Medicare for lung transplantation. The transplant program is available around the clock--365 days a year.
Pulmonary transplantation has become a viable treatment option for patients with end stage cardiopulmonary disease. Patients eligible for pulmonary transplantation include any person who is severely debilitated by their cardiopulmonary disease and is not hampered by any other organ system dysfunction. Candidates frequently have the diagnosis of obstructive lung disease (e.g. emphysema. cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis), pulmonary hypertension (both primary and secondary or pulmonary fibrosis (e.g. sarcoidosis, IPF, silicosis). This same team performs all cardiothoracic transplants for pediatric patients at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
Contraindications to transplantation include severe obesity, active neoplastic disease, systemic or untreatable local infection, tobacco or drug dependency, lack of adequate support systems, and the inability to comply with a strict medical regimen. Patients on chronic mechanical ventilation will be considered on a case by-case-basis.
Living-related lobar transplantation was pioneered by Dr. Starnes at USC University Hospital and provides an alternative therapy for severely ill patients who are unlikely to survive the waiting that is often required for cadaveric organs to be available. Dr. Starnes was the first in the world to perform a double-lobar living related transplant on a patient with cystic fibrosis. Strict criteria must be met before a patient can qualify for these living related procedures.
Single cadaveric lung transplantation is available for patients up to the age of 65 years. Double lung transplantation is the procedure of choice for patients with suppurative lung disease and/or severe pulmonary hypertension. These candidates are frequently under age 60.
Our comprehensive program includes constant transplant team communication with patient/family regarding all aspects of patient's medical care. Patients and families are also given general educational materials about what is expected post transplantation.
We place high value our our relationship with the referring physician and are committed to excellent communication to foster high quality continuity of care.
E-mail: heartsurgery@surgery.usc.edu
Zagreb, April 24 (FPB) - The first ever lung transplantation in Croatia and
this part of Europe has been carried out yesterday at the Jordanovac
hospital in Zagreb. A 64-year-old lung patient was fitted with a new set of
lungs; without the operation he was expected to live just another year. The
three-hour-long surgery was performed by a 10-doctor team with the
cooperation of doctors from other Zagreb clinics. There are some four
patients that are completely ready for surgery on the lung transplantation
waiting list and some 10 are being prepared for the procedure.
(a) Pre-operative X-ray of a female shows chronic lungdisease caused by broncho-pulmonary dysplasia.
(b) The right upper lobe of her mother's lung wastransplanted into the child's right chest.
(c) Transplantation from a living-related family member isbeneficial because it provides an immediate donor source and reduces thelikelihood of rejection.
The USC cardiopulmonary transplant team, headed by Vaughn A. Starnes, M.D., is composed of experts in their respective fields of cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, immunology, critical care medicine, cystic fibrosis, immunosuppression, and rehabilitation. Dr. Starnes is a world-recognized leader and innovator in heart, heart-lung, and lung transplantation, and cardiothoracic surgery. USC University Hospital recently received certification for Medicare for lung transplantation. The transplant program is available around the clock--365 days a year.
Pulmonary transplantation has become a viable treatment option for patients with end stage cardiopulmonary disease. Patients eligible for pulmonary transplantation include any person who is severely debilitated by their cardiopulmonary disease and is not hampered by any other organ system dysfunction. Candidates frequently have the diagnosis of obstructive lung disease (e.g. emphysema. cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis), pulmonary hypertension (both primary and secondary or pulmonary fibrosis (e.g. sarcoidosis, IPF, silicosis). This same team performs all cardiothoracic transplants for pediatric patients at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
Contraindications to transplantation include severe obesity, active neoplastic disease, systemic or untreatable local infection, tobacco or drug dependency, lack of adequate support systems, and the inability to comply with a strict medical regimen. Patients on chronic mechanical ventilation will be considered on a case by-case-basis.
Living-related lobar transplantation was pioneered by Dr. Starnes at USC University Hospital and provides an alternative therapy for severely ill patients who are unlikely to survive the waiting that is often required for cadaveric organs to be available. Dr. Starnes was the first in the world to perform a double-lobar living related transplant on a patient with cystic fibrosis. Strict criteria must be met before a patient can qualify for these living related procedures.
Single cadaveric lung transplantation is available for patients up to the age of 65 years. Double lung transplantation is the procedure of choice for patients with suppurative lung disease and/or severe pulmonary hypertension. These candidates are frequently under age 60.
Our comprehensive program includes constant transplant team communication with patient/family regarding all aspects of patient's medical care. Patients and families are also given general educational materials about what is expected post transplantation.
We place high value our our relationship with the referring physician and are committed to excellent communication to foster high quality continuity of care.
E-mail: heartsurgery@surgery.usc.edu